Lighting device.



.R. E. SCHNEIDER.

LIGHTING DEVICE. APPLICATION IILED APRJB, 1912.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0" WASHINGTON, D C.

R. E. SCHNEIDER.

LIGHTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.18, 1912.

1,049,002, Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

' q/Vi/twzowo UNTTEB ers whi WFEQEQ ROBERT E. SCHNEIDER, F TRENTON, NEW J LIGHTING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Homer E. SCHNEIDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Trenton, in the county of Mercer and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Lighting Devices, of

' which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to lighting devices, sometimes called automatic lighters, and employed for the purpose of lighting gas jets, torch flames and the like, and operating upon the principle of producing an ignition spark by aid of an alloy member in scraping contact with a roughened surface.

More particularly stated my invention comprehends a simple construct-ion of lighter adapted for a variety of uses and provided with a roughened wheel engaging an alloy member and turned by direct muscular action of the operators hand at the instant while the spark is produced, a spring or equivalent member being employed to retract certain movable parts to normal position after the ignition is accomplished.

My lighter is especially adapted for use as an attachment for gas fixtures and lamps already in use.

As it is impracticable to show all of the various forms in which my invention can be constructed and operated, I disclose a few preferred forms which may be considered as typical or illustrative of many others.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which like letters indicate like parts.

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing my invention as applied to a gas fixture having an ordinary flat flame tip. Fig. 2 is a substantially central vertical section through the lighter, removed from the gas fixture. Fig. 2 is a detail showing the annular base by aid whereof the device is supported in position. Fig. 3 shows a form of my device applied to an incandescent burner. Fig. & is a side elevation showing my invention as applied to a torch, used, for instance, for gas lighting purposes. Fig. 5 is a view partly in section and partly in front elevation, of

the torch shown in Fig. 4:. Fig. 6 is aside elevation somewhat similar to Fig. 1 showing my device as constructed somewhat differently and employing a difierent kind of spring. Fig. 7 is a rear elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6.

A metallic bracket 8 is mounted upon an annular base 9, and is located adjacent to one Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 18, 1912.

Patented lee. 31,1912.

Serial No. 691,655.

edge thereof. This base 9 is adapted to encircle the usual sleeve or extension, forming part of the ordinary gas fixture 10, upon which is threaded the usual pillar 11 carry ing the gas tip 12 and firmly clamping the annular base 9 in position. The bracket 8 is provided with oppositely disposed arms 13, 1 1, the arm 14 being bent across, adj acent to its upper end, as indicated in Fig. 2. The portion of the arm thus bent across carries a tubular sleeve 16 and revolubly mounted in 1 the upper end of this sleeve is an adjusting screw 17. Engaging this adjusting screw and located within the sleeve is a spiral spring 18, the lower end of which rests upon a plug 19 of alloy. 1 do not limit myself to any particular kind of alloy for this purpose, or even in all instances to the employment of any alloy, though the well-known alloy ferro-cerium may be used if desired.

Any metallic alloy found upon the market and capable of making a spark when subjected to abrasion will answer the purpose.

Extending across from the arm 13 to the arm 14 is a shaft 20 which in this instance is stationary. Bevolubly mounted upon this shaft is a friction wheel 21 made of hard metal having a peripheral surface milled or otherwise roughened and in direct engagement with the plug 19. The friction wheel 20 is provided with notches, one of which is shown at 22, these notches being spaced equidistant and acting together somewhat as a ratchet. A pulley 23 is revolubly mounted upon the shaft 20 and is provided with ahub 24:. A spiral spring 25 encircles this hub and is connected at one end directly to the arm 1e and at the other end to the pulley 23. A chain 26 is connected with the pulley 23 and partially wound thereupon, the lower end of the chain being provided with a ball 27 serving the purpose of a handle and also being ornamental. Pressure of the plug 19 upon the friction wheel is suflicient to hold the wheel stationary while the spring 25 is retracting the pulley 23 and winding the chain, but when the operator grasps the chain and pulls vigorously upon it, the friction wheel 21 is turned, in a clockwise direction according to Fig. 1, with such degree of power as is exerted by the operator in pulling the chain. The pulley 23 carries a spring pawl 23 which extends into some one of the notches 22 carried by the friction wheel, and this pawl causes the rotation of the friction wheel whenever the chain is pulled downwardly.

To fit the device for use as an attachment, the pillar 11 is unscrewed and removed, the annular base 9 is fitted upon the usual sleeve of the gas fixture 10, and the pillar is then replaced upon this sleeve, as indicated in Fig. 1, so as to clamp the annular base securely in position and thus support the bracket 8 as shown.

The operation of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 will be readily understood from the foregoing description. The operator by turning the adjusting screw 17 compresses the spring 18 to any desired extent, and in so doing causes the alloy plug 19 to be forced into engagement with the roughened surface of the frictional wheel. If now the chain be grasped by the operator and pulled quickly downward, the pulley 23 is rotated and as aconsequence the friction wheel 21 is turned as above described. The friction of the roughened surface of the friction wheel against the alloy plug 19 causes a spark, or rather a shower of sparks, to be thrown tangentially off from the friction wheel, and this stream of sparks is directed across the path of gas issuing from the tip 12, thus lighting the gas jet. The retractile power of the spring 25 new turns the pulley 23 back to its normal position, the friction wheel remaining unmolested.

In the form shown in Fig. 3 the gas fixture 28 carries a burner 29 and supported by the latter is a globe 30. A mantle yoke appears at- 31 and a tubular mantle at 32. The mantle is supported by the mantle yoke, the latter extending upwardly from a ring 34 which is mounted upon the burner tube 33. A bracket support 33 has generally the form of a split ring 33 the latter having flat lugs 33, which are pressed toward. each other by a clamping bolt 33". A bracket 35, having ageneral tubular form, extends through the bracket support 33 and is se cured thereto. The bracket may also extend downwardly and outwardly through a portion of the burner 29. The bracket 35 carries a friction wheel 36 and an adjusting screw 37, these parts corresponding wit-h the friction wheel 23 and the adjusting screw 17 as above described. The bracket 35 also carries various other parts substantially similar to those above described with reference to the bracket 8. A chain 26 corresponding in construction and action to the chain 26 extends downwardly and outwardly through the bracket 35, if continued below the support 33 or else outwardly through a tubular guide 26*, the latter extending through a hole in the burner 29.

To attach my device to a lamp of the type shown in Fig. 3, a hole is made in the burner 29 to accommodate the lower end of the bracket 35 or the tubular guide 26*. The

mantle and mantle holder now being removed, the bracket support 33 is by aid of the clamping bolt 33 secured upon the burner tube.

By pulling the chain 26 and thus causing the rotation of the pulley 36 and parts connected therewith, sparks are produced which are thrown against the mantle 32 thus causing the ignition of gas, which has been previously turned into the mantle in the manner understood in this art. The chain 26 being released, the parts are restored to their respective normal conditions.

in Figs. at and 5, I show a torch equipped with my improved lighter. A longitudinal casing 38 is provided with a handle 39 and fitted into the casing is a reservoir, or lamp body 41-0 provided with a wick 4C1. Mounted upon the casing 38 is an eye 5L2 which may be used for suspending the torch from a. support, or for any auxiliary purpose. A. fastening member 4:3 is employed for holding the reservoir 10 within the casing 38 and for facilitating its release therefrom. Mounted upon the casing 38 is a bracket 14 having a purpose quite similar to that of the brackets 8 and 35 above described. This bracket supports a sleeve 16, a. stationary shaft 20, a friction wheel 21 and a pulley together with other related parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2 above described. A. chain 45 is partially wound uponthe pulley 23 and extends through a longitudinal head 46, being connected to a slide 47. This slide is provided with a projecting portion formed into a hook as shown in Figs. t and 5. The operator by pulling upon the slide causes the chain 45 to turn the pulley 23, and this causes the rotation of the friction wheel 21 so that the sparks are produced substantially as above described, these sparks being directed toward the wick 11 and causing the ignition of vapor issuing therefrom. After the slide 47 is released, the parts are restored to their respective normal conditions as above described.

In Figs. 6 and 7 my device is adapted for use upon a fiat flame gas burner, but in this instance the construction of the parts is somewhat different from that disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2. The supporting ring 48 carries a pillar 11 provided with a t-ip 12; mounted upon the supporting ring 48 is a bracket 49, the latter carrying a sleeve 49*. This sleeve is analogous in construction and action to the sleeve 16 and is provided with an adjusting screw 49 similar to the adjusting screw 17. The bracket 49 is provided with a stationary shaft 50 and revolubly mounted upon this shaft is a friction wheel 51. This friction wheel is provided with notches one of which is shown at 52. A lever 53 is mounted to rock upon the shaft 50. Connected with the lever is spring 54E which is also connected with the bracket 49.

By aid of the spring 5& the lever 53 tends to normally occupy the position indicated in Fig. 6. A spiral spring 56 encircles the shaft 50 and presses the lever 53 to the left according to Fig. 7 so that the pawl 55, carried by the lever 53, tends to enter some one of the notches 52. Connected with the lever 53 is a chain 57.

The operation of the device shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is very much like that above described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the main difference being that in the device as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the friction wheel 51 is turned by aid of the lever 58, this lever being retracted by the spiral spring 54:.

As will be understood from the foregoing remarks the invention may assume a variety of forms and used in many diiferent relations. It may be either made a part of a gas fixture, lamp or torch, or may be afterward added as an attachment. It is of special use as an attachment for gas fixtures already in use.

I do not limit myself to the exact constructions shown, the scope of my invention being commensurate with my claims.

I claim 1. The combination with a sparking mechanism actuated by a pull chain, of a tubular bracket supporting said mechanism and through which said chain passes, a flat base member having an opening therethrough and engaging the threaded extension of a gas burner bracket-arm, and an offset formed on said base member and in a plane with it to which said supporting bracket is rigidly attached and adapted to be held in close parallel relation to the gas burner when in position on the bracket-arm.

2. The combination with a sparking mechanism including a friction wheel and a spark producing material, of a tubular supporting bracket for said mechanism, the axis of said tubular supporting bracket being tangential to the periphery of said friction wheel, a base plate provided with an opening to engage the threaded extension of a gas burner bracket-arm, a pillar engaging the threaded extension of said bracketarm and clamping said base plate in position, and an oifset formed upon the base plate and provided with an opening to receive said tubular supporting bracket whereby said bracket is held in parallel relation to said pillar.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT E. SCHNEIDER. lVitnesses:

ALBERT GOLD, Mrs. RoB'r. E. SCHNEIDER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

